>> up next on "to the contrary" actress meryl streep lobbies for the national history museum. sandra day o'connor on her appointment. and other women luminaries. hello. welcome to a special edition of "to the contrary." this week, a celebration of women's achievements. we begin with academy award winning actress, meryl streep and her commitment to making the national women's history museum a reality. i spoke with streep when she was in washington promoting the museum. her passion for women's history is also evident in the role she chooses including her oscar

winning portrayal of the powerful british prime minister, margaret thatcher. >> i thought it would be really interesting to look hard at a person whose life honestly i had not known very much about. but i had been quite judgmental about. as we are with women in politics we are much harder, especially women, on each other. and i wanted to look more deeply at her life, her achievements. >> streep hopes to use what she learned from the parter her push for national women's history museum. >> i don't know if i have anything even approaching her grit and that is the word, gosh, i wish i did. make everything a lot easier. i think she battled forward with unrelenting determination. i wish i had that same strength

in purpose. i just have my beliefs that it's a good idea. >> streep came to washington, d.c. this week for a gala in support. congress is stalling the sale of the site to build the museum. >> we're not asking for money, for funds or anything just permission to be -- to buy a federal building with our very own money. we're asking to give the government a check, it's really galling that you have get on your knees. i suppose that's what we have to do in the nicest possible way. >> what do you want to see in the museum, artists like yourself? >> i want to see things like -- things that are lost to us, stories like, when i grew up there was very little women's history in my history textbook. fit was a little box. clara barton in the bottom. it was like show business

equivalent of "and introducing --" wasn't the main cast. but as little girls we always went to that box and read those avidly. >> what do you say to young women. you have three daughters and a son. >> i think you learn something from history. you learn about all the mistakes that were made and you can look at history for all the inspiration you'll ever need to go forward without making those mistakes over again. we just got to pull together and get this done. >> the woman profiled in our next story unquestionably belongs in the national women's history museum. she is former supreme court justice, sandra day o'connor. for the 30th anniversary of her nomination to the court, justice owe conor sat down with npr and abc correspondent cocie roberts for a interview

exclusively to "to the contrary." >> what was it like when you found out? >> it was a shock, i mean, who would think for a moment that some cowgirl from southeast arizona would be asking to serve on the supreme court. it was a shock. >> that's how you see yourself? >> that's what i was. i mean, i had a little education along the way, i hope i learned something in the process. but i never expected to be asked to serve on the supreme court. i was very honored. i wasn't sure i should do it. i had never argued a case at the core, i had not been a law clerk at the court. >> did the president himself call you? >> he did. my phone wrong and it was ronald reagan an the phone. he said, sandra, i'd like to announce your nomination for the court tomorrow. frank lie my heart sang. >> really? >> it really did. because i was not at all sure that i could do the job well enough.

i didn't know if i could. i told my husband and he said, oh, that's ridiculous, of course you can. and he was more certain and enthused than i was. >> then you came to washington and -- >> did i. >> do you think they treated you differently because you were a woman? >> well, they were very curious to meet me. those who didn't know me. number one, they were curious. number two, they weren't sure and number three, women are half of our voting population, aren't they? i think there was a certain hesitation on the part of elected officials to say, we can't have a woman, they didn't want to do that because they didn't know what affect that would have on voters. >> you think that in some ways they treated you with kid gloves? >> i think a little bit. i don't know if i'm accurate on that. but that's the sense that i had. >> do you think that is still true? do you think that --

>> oh, no. my goodness, i sat in the courtroom before the summer adjournment i looked up at the bench, there were three women on it, that's incredible. did that make you happy? >> it certainly did. i didn't think i'd see it in my life the time. >> do they need to be more qualified -- >> i wouldn't say more. but a woman as i came along had to be pretty well qualified or she wouldn't be considered for anything. >> you talk about being law school classmates with justice rehnquist. >> yes. he ended up number one in the class and you were number three in the class. >> the law school kept no record of how we were ranked. they know what our greats were. they can go look at the grades. >> then you couldn't get a job in law firm and he could easily. >> it was a strange story. at stanford, bulletin board for students it was full of little notices from law firms all over california saying, stanford law graduates, call us, we want to talk to you about work. >> you must have been less to --

>> i called every single number on the bulletin board. i could not get a single interview. i knew a girl my age at stanford, not in law school, but her father was a partner at one of the big california firms. he got me an interview, headquarters in los angeles, i made the trip down. he looked at my resume, miss day, you have a fine record in law school. he said, miss day, this firm has never hired a woman lawyer. i don't see the day when we will. our clients wouldn't stand for it. and i was very disappointed as he could see. and he said, "well, miss day, maybe i can get you on here as a legal secretary, would you like to talk to the staff abut that?" i said, no thank you. that ended that pursuit. >> did that experience make a

difference in your view of the law? >> probably. i don't know. i didn't come away as a big campaigner for women's issues. i just wanted to see improvement. i wanted it for myself, i wanted it for others in my shoes but i didn't become some wild-eyed advocate. >> you talk about the group of nine, the very small group. >> yes. >> then another woman was appointed, justice ginsberg. >> finally. it was less to ten years. >> is that right? >> you became close. >> sure, we liked each other. it was nice to have another woman on the court. >> you made the point that when you came on the court it was divided 4-4. >> it was, on many cases. >> the fact it was so evenly divided -- >> on some areas. >> and predictably, frankly, a lot of areas. you were not predictable. was that because you just practical?

>> probably. i grew up on a ranch, you know. i'm sure that affected me because anybody growing up on a ranch or a farm in a situation like that you have to make things work. you have to make things run. you. >> you retired because your husband was sick. >> he had alzheimer's. that's sad. i probably will never stop thinking how sad that is. but it's all right to be away from the court, i was here 25 years, that's a long time. and what i am doing now is trying to teach young people by this website i have, i think that's very worthwhile. and i also am sitting on the courts of appeal, that's all right, too. i have a voice in some panels in different areas, that's fine. >> now, another first. in 2007 nancy pelosi became the

first female speaker of the house of representatives. it was a leadership position she earned in a hard-bought battle. in the summer of 2010 just before the democrats lost control of the house, pelosi took "to the contrary" mind the scenes for a look at her life and work. "to the contrary" spent a typically packed day with pelosi. the day began by calling the house in to session. >> house will be in order. >> followed by legislative votes and meetings. also on her agenda, pictures with interns in the hall. >> very good, thank you. [ applause ] more pictures. and book signing on the speaker's balcony. >> so proud of you -- >> grateful for your enthusiasm for being here. >> pelosi is no straik tore politics, washington d.c. or the

new deal. her father was a new deal democrat, born nancy patricia delasandro she grew up in baltimore, maryland. only girl and youngest of six children. her father, thomas delasndro, ju baltimore for 12 years. after spending five terms in congress. >> you write in your book about being a little girl and coming here for the first time with your family and your father who was course in congress. how did that prepare you for who you are today. >> probably not at all. prepared me for being a little girl in baltimore, maryland. but it was something i never did forget that i would be driving up to the capitol with my brothers and i was a very little girl, not even in school. they were saying, nancy, nancy, look, there's the capitol. i kept looking for a capitol a, a capital b -- i just don't see

it. right in front of you. one thing and another eventually i realized that this beautiful domed building that they were pointing at was not capital letter but the capitol with an "o." of the united states. beautiful luminescent, i don't ever see it to this day without just being in awe of what it stands for. >> you're the first daughter elected of a former member and you did it -- i know you said in the book about your father was so proud of you because he did it without his name from, a whole different area of the country. what would your dad say if he could see you today? >> he'd cry, i think. he was so in awe of -- he served in congress he served with these giants in the congress. he was a new deal congressman then became mayor of ball mother when i was in first grade. when i went away to college he was still the mayor of

baltimore. speaker of the house that was really very important to him. he'd be wondering. how this all happened. but he did -- it was interesting that i would be the first daughter -- many fathers and sons who have served but the first father and daughter. >> pelosi has represented california's 8th district in in congress since 1987. she won a special election after her good friend, congresswoman burton who had terminal cancer asked her to run for the seat. pelosi was 47. the mother of five. a mother of five to member of congress, only woman in the room a lot of times you talk about in the book. was it just her saying to you, you're the one i want to say my seat? how did all that happen? >> it's pretty much that. people had asked me to run for office over time, i had five teenagers -- it was completely

out of the question. once they were by and large gone, my youngest was senior in high school when -- he was going in to high school as a senior, when i went to her said, daddy and i have talked about this. if you want me to stay here, i'm thrilled. if it's okay with you then i won't run. i ma may not win but i will run. she said, mother, get a life. so i did. another life. a congressional life. it's worked out great. >> you said in your book that running a household prepared you for politics. how did that work? >> well, certainly i grew up in a political household and i knew the value of public service and that it was a noble calling. i had that orientation in terms of a vision, but in terms of the day-to-day i don't think anything equips anybody better in terms of using your time well

or having a sense of organization than being a mother of many children, especially very close in age in my case. it takes all of your organizational skills, dep ploy mat particular skills. you're an executive. >> are there enough women in congress? >> absolutely not. we want more as i always say. from the first day i got here, we want more. i'm very proud of the fact that our delegation from california, the democratic delegation over half. over 50% are women. that doesn't include our two senators, senator fine stop and senator box. i i do that women have something special that they bring to the table. i think that there is intuitive sense of judgment and decision making that women have that we should value. women have something quite special and quite different to bring to the table. one is to send a message, if you're a young working woman in

our country and you see a young working woman sitting at the table of power as a member of congress i think there's a connection that is inspiring on both sides. >> dr. dorothy height was one of the most favorite and honored african american women in the civil rights movement. also served as president of the national council of negro women for more than now decades. she lived to be 98. her memoir of released when she was 91. that's when i asked her about her experiences as a woman working with predominantly male civil rights leaders. >> i have a peer relationship with those men. because what we were looking at was, the issue was about civil rights. it was about justice, about equality. and to be able to join hands and

work with men of the great strength of those men on that cause meant that it was not a matter of male and female. it was -- >> she sees tremendous progress for african american women during the past 60 years despite what she calls the double handicap of race and gender. she credits civil rights laws including the civil rights act of 1964 and voting rights act of 1965 as well as the women's movement. which some activists claim haven't done enough. this progress proves women of color needn't choose between race and gender. >> when we advanced in the civil rights laws it didn't help just black people. it helped the whole country. we advance women, it advances the whole family. that's why i don't like to pit one against the other. >> she cautions laws alone won't eliminate discrimination.

>> i know as both as an african american and a woman that is giving us the foundation. but we really have to act more vigorously because you don't have the expressions of black spines and white signs and white toilets and black toilets and men only ads in papers. we don't have those things. in the absence of those things it is so easy to try to pretend that the problems are gone, but they're still there. >> she believes annual commemorations such as african american history month helped people understand the persistent nature of discrimination. and helped to highlight accomplishments of past generations. she was inspired by african american women who came before her, such as mary church terrell educator and anti-segregation activist who cofounded national association for advancement of colored people.

her greatest motivation comes from a woman who was also a mentor. >> she founded the national council of negro women and who i met in 1936 was a great humanitarian, great leader. on that same day i met mrs. roosevelt. those two women for the rest of their lives were not only friends and mentors but they made a great impact in my life. >> the doctor logged not only historical figures but african american women making history. >> a younger woman, that at 91 everyone seems so young. but i look at the work that others are doing. i look at women in the wide range of fields, there are so many who have gone beyond simply getting skills. they made a commitment to improving the quality of life. and they are great.

>> finally, we take you back to ancient egypt. americans may be surprised to learn a handful of women ruled egypt long ago. their names and accomplishments are often over shadowed by those of ramseys, or king tut but can still be seen today. the most influential by far was the female pharaoh. the nile, whose waters gave birth to oldest civilization, ancient egypt. here in the valley of the king the pharaoh's power was measured by the size of the monuments he left behind. among the most stunning, the temple, meaning the sublime of the sublime. built by the female pharaoh. she was born a princess in 1484 when her father died one of her half brothers took moses, ii, became pharaoh. as was customary among royalty at the time to roses, ii,

married his half sister. the two ruled jointly a testament to her power but never produce addison so when moses, ii, died, eight years in to the marriage power passed to his son by a concubine. he was too young to rule, he took power as regent. but not content to warm the throne for someone else she used power for her civil became pharaoh. here at the temple across the nile is ample evidence of her power and influence as pharaoh in the form of obulisks and monuments a change in the depiction of her. at first she's depicted in royal dress appearing as a woman. later she wears the full regalea including the false beard one of the symbols of divine kingship is referred to as her madge majesty the king. scholars wonder if she ever

approved the pictures. she took power in history. during imperial power, country's wealth and incredible cultural and artistic achievements have led to her discretion by some historians as, towering above the april comment world as its most outstanding female personality. certainly her monument's power above most others. as one of perhaps half a dozen women who ruled major ancient civilizations without the presence of a male co-ruler on the throne, she differed in one very important respect. she did not want to be remembered for her military achievements. clearly there were military campaigns during her 22-year rule. but she wanted to be remembered as someone who opened up new trade routes to other parts of africa. this scene depicts her sea expedition to the land called peunt which -- this trip was

significant because it was the first ever sea voyage to that part of africa from egypt. >> they weren't accessing gold directly from nubians who were panning for it. and the egyptians were collecting it there at time when they were only beginning their own conquest and control of the nubian gold mine. i think that she obviously felt that this was an economic coup that's why she wanted everyone to know it. >> elsewhere, hieroglyphics tell of hermineings expeditions north to sinai for turquoise and for granite to build obolusks, she wanted to be remembered for elevation of status of some egyptian women. artistic depictions tell us about religious rituals and women's roles than all other artwork combined. scholars say the number of elite women involved in the prestigious and extremely

powerful cult service, spiked up during her reign. small figures in procession portray women clapping, doing acrobatics and playing musical instruments. these figures give us the only record of the role played by the high priestess referred to as god's -- with all her influence, why isn't she better known? perhaps because after her death moses iii usurped power for himself and went on to become ancient egypt's greatest warrior king. he tried to destroy her memory, his workers systematically defaced her inscriptions and monuments. that may not be the only reason. >> in the '60s it was still very common to refer to her as conniving, scheming woman who stole the kingship from her poor young nephew who couldn't fight back. >> that's it for this special edition of "to the contrary."

we plan to keep shining a spotlight on women making a difference. and on the issues that impact women, families and diverse communities. check our website, pbs.org/ttc, for ttc extra. follow me on sweater @bonnieerbe. and whether your views are in agreement or to the contrary, please join us next time. >> funding for "to the contrary" provided by: cornell douglas foundation committed to stewardship of the environment, land conservation, watershed protection and eliminating harmful chemicals. such as endocrine disrupt terse. additional funding provided by: the colcom foundation. the wallace genetic foundation and by the charles a. frueauff foundation.

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